RINGGOLD — Gov. Timothy M. Kaine helped open the new Swedwood plant last Wednesday and praised the partnership between Pittsylvania County and Danville that made the furniture maker and IKEA subsidiary a reality.
"This is a tribute to Pittsylvania County and Danville," said Kaine, who also was on hand when the Swedish company announced plans in 2006 to build the 930,000-square-foot factory.
Swedwood invested $85 million in the local plant. It already employs 200 people and will eventually provide 740 jobs.
The governor said regional cooperation, particularly between cities and counties, is rare.
"I don’t see this level of cooperation all over the commonwealth," he said. "You are doing something very unusual.
Swedwood is located on 209 acres in the Cane Creek Centre, a joint industrial park developed by the county and city off Route 58 in Ringgold.
The industrial park also is home to Yorktowne Cabinetry.
Kaine thanked Swedwood and IKEA officials for choosing Virginia for the company’s first manufacturing plant in North 
America, and presented Swedwood North America president Bengt Danielsson with a framed share in the James River Company, the commonwealth’s first business.
Danielsson, who has overseen construction and start-up of the new plant, said Swedwood is pleased to be in Danville and Pittsylvania County.
"This could not have happened without our friends," he said, referring to state and local officials, suppliers, and others associated with the project.
"We’re excited to open our first U.S. facility today to meet the growing demand for IKEA furniture," Danielsson said. "We’re glad to be in your community. We are certain we made a wise decision."
Bruno Winborg, chairman of Swedwood Internation, said the local plant has been a good investment for the company.
"You have given us marvelous guidance and wonderful support," he said. "All of these efforts combined have created a good project."
Founded in 1991, Swedwood is an industrial group of companies that manufactures and distributes furniture for IKEA, a worldwide home furnishings retailer.
The local plant will produce a variety of wood-based IKEA products, including bookshelves, coffee and side tables, and modular entertainment systems.
Swedwood said it chose Pittsylvania County and Danville because of the area’s strategic location to IKEA stores in the Northeast, availability of raw materials, infrastructure, and skilled workforce.
Swedwood operates 36 plants in 10 countries and employs more than 13,000.
Wednesday’s ceremony also included flag-raisings with Danville Mayor Sherman Saunders, Dan River District Supervisor James Snead, County Administrator Dan Sleeper, and Dan River and George Washington high school JROTC cadets, as well as the singing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" and Sweden’s national anthem.
A traditional Swedish log-sawing, symbolizing good luck to a new home and its visitors, replaced the usual ribbon-cutting, with Kaine and Winborg manning a crosscut saw.
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Chairman Coy Harville welcomed Swedwood.
"We’re with you all the way," said Harville.
"We’re very proud of this facility and the joint venture with the city," the chairman added. "It shows what can happen when we work together."
Danville City Manager Jerry Gwaltney called the occasion a "great day for our community," and noted that Swedwood helped pave the way for another international company, Com. 40, to locate in Danville.
Com. 40 is a Polish company that makes mattresses and upholstered furniture and is a key supplier to IKEA.
The company announced in February it will invest $36.3 million to open a manufacturing plant in Danville and eventually create 813 jobs.
IKEA has 275 stores in 36 countries, including 34 in the United States and 11 in Canada. The company is scheduled to open a store in Charlotte, N.C., soon.
By TIM DAVIS
Star-Tribune Editor
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